Hoppin’ John Fiddlers’ Convention
We’re looking forward to the 16th Annual Hoppin’ John, and hope you are, too. A fantastic experience is coming together in the beautiful hills we love so much. Some of this year’s highlights include Friday night at Carson’s Grove with Phil Wiggins and Hubby Jenkins, showcases featuring Women in Old-Time Music and Blues Guitar (check out this Go See This article by Chatham Arts Council’s Heather O’Shaughnessy), and of particular significance in today’s market of rising inflation, the return of the contestant refund!
Festival website: https://hoppinjohn.org/
Keeping the fiddlers convention tradition alive, we are bringing back the contestant refund. Weekend contestants get $10 back on admission, and $5 for day attendees. Ticketing changes also enable you to make a last minute decision to get on stage. Prizes total $4,000 (plus those beautiful homemade ribbons).
2023 Performers and Schedule
Thursday
Come on in and set up camp, play a few tunes and hang out with old and new friends…
7:30pm: Square Dance with the Hoppin’ Johnnies, Caller Nancy Mamlin
Friday
Carson’s Grove
4pm: Adult Individual Contests: Guitar, Mandolin and Other Stringed Instrument
7:00 Oak City Serenaders, opening for:
8:30pm: Band Contest
Dance Tent
4:30pm: Flat-footing Workshop, TBA
8:30pm: Square Dance with the Firescald Stringband, Caller Ruth Pershing
Coffee Barn
4:30pm: Workshop: Kids Intermediate Fiddle with Lillian Chase
6pm: Workshop: Twanging & Plucking – Clawhammer Banjo with Jake Owen
Saturday
Carson’s Grove Stage
11:30am–1pm: Youth Individual Competitions (ages 15 and under): Youth Fiddle, Youth Banjo, Youth Other Instrument
1pm: Youth Dance Contest
1:30pm til Finished: Adult Individual Contests: Fiddle, Banjo, Folk Song
7:30pm: Clogging Performance with The Green Grass Cloggers
8:00pm: Band Contest Finale
End of Band Contest: Adult Dance Competition
Dance Tent
10am: Kids Clogging with Tampa Enoch-Reese
11am: Clogging Workshop with the Green Grass Cloggers
1pm: String Band Music of the NC Piedmont w/Wayne Martin, Evelyn Shaw, Gerry Overton, John Gaster and Patti Stutts
2:30pm: Music Maker Presents: Piedmont Blues & Gospel with Big Ron and Belinda Hunter
5:15pm: Family Ssquare Dance, Workshop & CAKE WALK with the Hoppin’ Johnnies and Caller TBA
8pm: Country Dance with Hooverville
9:30: Rowdy Square Dance with The Five Points Rounders and Caller Nancy Mamlin
Coffee Barn:
11:30am: The Art of Old-Time Fiddle with Wayne Martin
12:30pm: Workshop: Appalachian Ballads with Cary Fridley
2pm: Workshop: NC Banjo Styles with Travis Stuart
3:30pm: Workshop: Storytelling Blues with Big Ron Hunter
5:30pm: Workshop: Country Blues Fingerpicking, Carter Family Style with David Hughes
Kids Tent:
10am: Songs and Stories with Tim Wells
10am – 6pm: Open and supervised games and crafts including Spin Art, Cornhole, Masquerade Mask making, Popsicle Stick Building, Painting and paper crafts.
11am – 12pm: Hootenany Hayrides! Departs from road by the Kids Tent every 30 minutes, traveling around the grounds
1:30 – 4pm: Hootenany Hayrides! Departs from road by the Kids Tent every 30 minutes, traveling around the grounds
4pm: Make and Play Your Own Can-jo
*Please understand that schedules are subject to change.
Additional Details
Website URL - https://hoppinjohn.org/